Catching Fire producer finally responds to those casting rumors

The rumored short list for The Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire has only grown over the past few weeks, with everyone from Taylor Kitsch (John Carter) to Robert Pattinson (Twilight) and Garrett Hedlund (Tron: Legacy) rumored for a starring role. But what does the film's producer think of all the buzz?

According to Catching Fire producer Nina Jacobson, the person who would actually know how the casting is coming together, all of those rumors are just that—rumors. Turns out they haven't even started tossing around names for the open role of character Finnick Odair, who figured heavily in Suzanne Collins' book.

"[Those reports are] so not true," she told 24 Frames. "That's the thing that's crazy—people are like way ahead of where we are. We've not narrowed things down by any means. It's funny to see how things can take on a life of their own."

When asked if the rumored short list could affect the actual short list, Jacobson said anything is possible. But in the end, she said, they'll decide who they think is the right fit—not whoever has the most online buzz that week.

"It means something that people can see [an actor] in that light, so you know [the actor] will be accepted by a lot of people, on the one hand. On the other hand, you have to kind of ignore it. You have to just sort of act like you're sitting in a room and you want to just pick the person who gives the best audition and looks and feels most like the part."

Though work has barely started on the film, Catching Fire is set to open Nov. 22, 2013.